WWL Promotes Dying Matters Awareness Week

Newsdate: 14 May 2018

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust will be joining 32,000 members of the Dying Matters Coalition for a week of action to encourage people to talk about their wishes towards the end of their lives.

Running from May 14th – 20th this year’s theme is “What Can You Do”, aiming to challenge people to do something practical, like making a will, or something for someone else who is bereaved, or caring for a dying relative. This could be something as simple as cooking a meal or walking the dog, but can make a huge difference to someone coping with death or bereavement.

Research commissioned by the Dying Matters Coalition shows that just 35 per cent of adults said they had made a will, 30 per cent had let someone know their funeral wishes and only seven per cent had written down wishes or preferences about the care they would want if they couldn’t make decisions. Furthermore, only 25 per cent had asked a family member about their end of life wishes and just 33 per cent had registered to be an organ donor.

The Hospital Palliative Care Team are today hosting an information stand, to offer support and information for members of the public who wish to discuss the sensitive topic of dying.

The Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Department, Bereavement and Donor Specialist Nurse and the Three Wishes Hospital Charity have also invited relatives and friends of patients who have recently lost a loved one at Wigan Infirmary, to share in three services of remembrance and celebration of their life.

Gail Brown, Bereavement and Donor Specialist Nurse, said; “As a society, we need to talk more about dying and death and, as individuals, we all need to have a conversation about our end of life choices and wishes with our family, friends and loved ones.

“We are hoping that through this awareness week, people find a way to talk about dying without it being taboo and understand there is no right or wrong way.”